Vishal Verma v. State of Himachal Pradesh

IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA

CWP No. 12540 of 2026

Decided on: 28.07.2026

Vishal Verma and Anr.

.…Petitioners.

Versus

State of H.P. and Anr.

…Respondents.

Coram

The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, Chief Justice.

The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Bipin C. Negi, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1

For the petitioners : Dr. Lalit K. Sharma, Advocate.

For the respondents : Ms. Priyanka Chauhan, Deputy

Advocate General, for

respondent No.1.

G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice (Oral)

The challenge in the present writ petition has been made to various letters/orders, regarding the fresh tender process.

2.

Learned counsel for the petitioners restricts his prayer to prayer clause (iii), i.e. representation dated

Whether reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment?

15.07.2026 (Annexure P-13), and submits that the said representation, pertaining to Camping Site R-33 C1, Gulhari Motikuna, Solan, District Solan, H.P., be decided by the competent authority. Thus, the impugned notification dated 08.07.2026 (Annexure P-12), whereby 49 ecotourism sites are sought to be tendered, has not been questioned.

3.

The representation, primarily, is based on the ground that on an earlier occasion, petitioners had been given the said site way back in the year 2009 for a period of five years in terms of Annexure P-1 and thereafter the same had further been extended for another period of five years on 21.04.2014 (Annexure P-2). It has been submitted that pursuant to the representation dated

14.06.2019, the extension was granted vide communication dated 09.09.2020 (Annexure P-4) for a further period of three years, subject to obtaining FCA clearance.

4.

It is not disputed that apparently even there are demands against the petitioners of the outstanding

amount of Rs.7,29,106/-, which is clear from letter dated

09.05.2023 (Annexure P-10) regarding the site in question. In the representation dated

15.07.2026 (Annexure P-13), petitioners have raised the issue of the COVID-19 pandemic period and have contended that the aforesaid demand is not justified in the facts and circumstances of the case. Thus, it is apparent that the petitioners have raised various issues, including the question of waiver/stay of the State's claim for the period affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as their claim for preferential allotment/extension of the site in question, which issues have not been adjudicated earlier.

5.

In such circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the request made by learned counsel for the petitioners, restricting his right, as such, to prayer clause (iii) is justified as firstly it is for the State to take action on the same.

6.

Accordingly, we dispose of the present writ petition with a direction to respondent No.2/Competent Authority to take a decision on the said representation

(Annexure P-13) within a period of ten days from today. Since, the last date for submission of the bids is

03.08.2026, it is open to the petitioner to apply for the same in the meanwhile, if eligible.

7.

Pending miscellaneous application(s) if any, shall also stand disposed of.

(G.S. Sandhawalia)

Chief Justice

(Bipin C. Negi)

Judge 28th July, 2026 (sushma)